23 October 2014
Today Pati and BeeBee finished up the tour of Delhi begun yesterday, and then some. The first stop was at the Red Fort, which they viewed from the back and then the front. This building is an important symbol of Indian independence. They did not go inside, since they would not be allowed to view very much of it.
Next, they visited the Jama Mosque in Old Delhi, which they had visited previously in 2010. As before, they climbed one of the minarettes. Also as before, they were accompanied by a young man, who made sure they were climbing up and down the steep steps (with no handrails or guardrails) safely. This young man also took many pictures of Pati and BeeBee from many angles, with the best background scenery. Just before the final descent, there was a different experience. In 2010 at this point, Pati was unsure of the tipping protocol but gave the young man a reasonable tip. He seemed offended, but took the tip. Pati was sure he had violated some religious beliefs at that point. Today, Pati was still unsure of the protocol, but the young man had been very helpful, so Pati swallowed his pride and asked discretely, could I give you 100 rupees? 500, the young man said.
After visiting the mosque, their guide asked whether they would like to walk down the street to observe shops. Streets in Delhi are organized by what is sold. Yesterday, they were in the stationers street; today, the fireworks street. They walked for about a block, dodging traffic and other customers. At the end of the block, their guide stopped to peruse a display of sparklers. He then haggled with the seller and came away with a small box of sparklers. These are for my son, he said. It turns out that the guide's only son is 1 1/2 years old. Because he had to work on Diwali (guiding Pati and BeeBee), this was his only opportunity to buy fireworks. And that was the end of perusing the sellers.
They then went to the Akshardham Temple, which they had visited before in 2010. Their guide walked in with them and explained some of the religion as well as the architecture and paintings of gods inside the main building. They did not visit the more glitsy parts of the complex, e.g. the boat ride showing the life of the guru, or the iMax sized video. Since they had visited this complex before, Pati and BeeBee did not mind that the visit was short. The most memorable parts of this visit, instead, had to do with the extreme security at the complex (as it was before). To enter the complex itself, visitors are searched and patted down by gender. Nothing electronic (well, actually, nothing at all) can be taken into the complex, just the clothes on your back and money. BeeBee had a thorough patdown that would put TSA to shame (or at least subject TSA to a serious lawsuit). Pati came out of his screening half-undressed. However, the best part of the story came at the beginning. Before the car could enter the carpark, the guards searched the trunk and under the hood. Suddenly, a guard came to the driver's door and demanded that he open the door. What is this, he demanded, as he waved an unopened bottle of liquor (a fifth of rum?) under the driver's nose. The driver sputtered something, and then everyone else got out of the car as the driver was made to u-turn the car out of the entrance lane. The guide, Pati and BeeBee then hurried into the complex. Pati later queried the guide about the bottle, but he feigned ignorance.
They were then taken to a restaurant for a very good Indian meal. And then back to the hotel, where they settled their bill and prepared for an early departure tomorrow.
Today Pati and BeeBee finished up the tour of Delhi begun yesterday, and then some. The first stop was at the Red Fort, which they viewed from the back and then the front. This building is an important symbol of Indian independence. They did not go inside, since they would not be allowed to view very much of it.
Next, they visited the Jama Mosque in Old Delhi, which they had visited previously in 2010. As before, they climbed one of the minarettes. Also as before, they were accompanied by a young man, who made sure they were climbing up and down the steep steps (with no handrails or guardrails) safely. This young man also took many pictures of Pati and BeeBee from many angles, with the best background scenery. Just before the final descent, there was a different experience. In 2010 at this point, Pati was unsure of the tipping protocol but gave the young man a reasonable tip. He seemed offended, but took the tip. Pati was sure he had violated some religious beliefs at that point. Today, Pati was still unsure of the protocol, but the young man had been very helpful, so Pati swallowed his pride and asked discretely, could I give you 100 rupees? 500, the young man said.
After visiting the mosque, their guide asked whether they would like to walk down the street to observe shops. Streets in Delhi are organized by what is sold. Yesterday, they were in the stationers street; today, the fireworks street. They walked for about a block, dodging traffic and other customers. At the end of the block, their guide stopped to peruse a display of sparklers. He then haggled with the seller and came away with a small box of sparklers. These are for my son, he said. It turns out that the guide's only son is 1 1/2 years old. Because he had to work on Diwali (guiding Pati and BeeBee), this was his only opportunity to buy fireworks. And that was the end of perusing the sellers.
They then went to the Akshardham Temple, which they had visited before in 2010. Their guide walked in with them and explained some of the religion as well as the architecture and paintings of gods inside the main building. They did not visit the more glitsy parts of the complex, e.g. the boat ride showing the life of the guru, or the iMax sized video. Since they had visited this complex before, Pati and BeeBee did not mind that the visit was short. The most memorable parts of this visit, instead, had to do with the extreme security at the complex (as it was before). To enter the complex itself, visitors are searched and patted down by gender. Nothing electronic (well, actually, nothing at all) can be taken into the complex, just the clothes on your back and money. BeeBee had a thorough patdown that would put TSA to shame (or at least subject TSA to a serious lawsuit). Pati came out of his screening half-undressed. However, the best part of the story came at the beginning. Before the car could enter the carpark, the guards searched the trunk and under the hood. Suddenly, a guard came to the driver's door and demanded that he open the door. What is this, he demanded, as he waved an unopened bottle of liquor (a fifth of rum?) under the driver's nose. The driver sputtered something, and then everyone else got out of the car as the driver was made to u-turn the car out of the entrance lane. The guide, Pati and BeeBee then hurried into the complex. Pati later queried the guide about the bottle, but he feigned ignorance.
They were then taken to a restaurant for a very good Indian meal. And then back to the hotel, where they settled their bill and prepared for an early departure tomorrow.
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